Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

With reference to its previous comments on the National Youth Service established by Act No. 83-27 of 15 August 1983, the Committee notes that, according to the Government's report, the National Youth Service has not been operating in the same way since 1991, that the Service now forms part of the structures of the national armed forces and that this form of the use of young workers contributes less to development work than to national defence.

The Committee notes this information, as well as section 5 of the Labour Code of 1992, under which the term forced or compulsory labour does not include "any work of public interest exacted under legal provisions respecting the organization of the defence, the establishment of a national service or participation in development".

The Committee notes once again that, on ratifying the Convention, States undertake to suppress and not to make use of any form of forced or compulsory labour as a means of mobilizing and using labour for purposes of economic development.

The Committee once again requests the Government to provide a copy of Act No. 83-27 of 15 August 1983 respecting the National Youth Service and to provide information on the objectives and organization of the Service, and particularly the number of persons recruited, the nature and duration of the work performed and the penalties imposed in cases of violations.